[1] Men who could pay the "subsidy," or tax assessed in favor of the
Crown.
[2] Adam Anderson, the early historian of British commerce, in
referring to this proclamation, says: "This was levelled against
the Puritans, then going in great numbers to New England, to avoid
persecution at home; and a better example need not be desired of
the wisdom and character of this King, and his favourites and
ministers" (_Origin of Commerce_, ii, 492). The proceedings against
the Massachusetts charter had just been brought to a close in April,
1637, with a judgment decreeing that it should be vacated. On April 30
came this proclamation. On May 3 the Privy Council ordered that the
attorney-general should "call in" for the patent for New England and
present it to the Committee for Foreign Plantations (_Acts of Privy
Council_, i, 217). A commission was issued which arrived at Boston,
June 3, establishing a general government for New England (Winthrop,
_History of New England_, i, 269). Among the papers in the Public
Record Office is the draft of a "Manifesto" of the King, dated July 23,
1637, establishing a general government in New England and declaring
his intention of appointing Sir Ferdinand Gorges as governor (_Cal.
State Papers, Colonial, 1574-1660_, p. 256). These various restrictive
measures all grew out of the Anglican unwillingness to countenance this
Puritan asylum in the New World.
1638, March 14.
[Importation of Tobacco.]